Accueil » CAREER

Career prospects for engineering graduates

Skills aligned with the most in-demand engineering careers in 2026

Software development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, energy and decarbonisation, embedded systems: the engineering fields recruiting most actively in 2026 are at the heart of major technological and industrial transformations. This trend directly reflects the degree programmes and areas of expertise offered at ENSICAEN. Companies are looking for engineers capable of supporting the ecological transition, industrial renewal, and French and European digital sovereignty.

Key figures – 2025 graduating class

80%
Employment rate
within 6 months of graduation
15%
Further studies
10% PhD / 5% other further studies
86%
Permanent contracts
in France
63%
Employment contract signed before graduation
of graduates

ENSICAEN engineering graduates from the November 2025 cohort have successfully entered the job market.

Within six months of graduation, 80% were in employment, while 15% of the cohort continued their studies (10% pursuing a PhD and 5% undertaking other further studies).

Permanent contracts accounted for 86% of employment contracts.

Partner companies: a strong pathway into employment

63% of graduates from the 2025 cohort had signed an employment contract before graduating.

These figures highlight the relevance of ENSICAEN’s educational approach, which combines strong technical and scientific expertise with innovation and teamwork skills.

Four main employment sectors

24%
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)

20%

Consulting and engineering firms · Independent engineering consultancies

13%
Transport industry
7%
Scientific research and development

24% of graduates start their careers in the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector. ICT encompasses industrial activities, IT services, telecommunications and trade, covering technologies used to visualise, process, store and transmit information electronically*.

20% of graduates were recruited by consulting or engineering firms, or independent engineering consultancies. 13% work in the transport industry and 7% in scientific research and development.

*Source : Insee

In-demand careers in 2026

Areas of expertise at the heart of ENSICAEN degree programmes

In 2026, six fields stand out among the areas with particularly strong demand for engineering graduates: software development, cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, energy and decarbonisation, mechatronics and robotics, and production and industrial engineering. These needs directly reflect the skills developed through ENSICAEN’s degree programmes.

Creating the digital technologies of tomorrow

Careers
  • Software development
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data & artificial intelligence
Degree Computer Science Engineering degree · Master's level
Employment sectors
IT and information services 60 %
Financial and insurance activities 13 %
Consulting firms – engineering consultancies 10 %

Shaping the future of the energy transition

Careers
  • Robotics & intelligent systems
  • Production & industrial engineering
  • Energy & decarbonisation
Degree Physical Engineering & Embedded Systems Engineering degree · Master's level
Employment sectors
Consulting firms – engineering consultancies 21 %
Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) 20 %
Energy 17 %
Automotive, aerospace, naval and railway industries 17 %

Innovating for the ecological transition

Careers
  • Production & industrial engineering
  • Energy & decarbonisation
Degree Materials & Chemistry Engineering degree · Master's level
Employment sectors
Consulting firms – engineering consultancies 20 %
Energy 13 %
Metallurgy 12 %
Chemical industry 12 %
Automotive, aerospace, naval and railway industries 11 %

Corporate social responsibility
and innovation

Social responsibility, ecological transition and digital innovation: engineers are involved in meaningful projects, whether these are central to their professional roles or developed alongside their main responsibilities.

21% regularly use generative AI in their work

10% have a primary role focused on social, societal or environmental activities

26% work on CSR-related projects alongside their main responsibilities

Companies: a pathway into employment

63% of graduates from the 2025 cohort had signed an employment contract before graduating. The professional network developed throughout the degree programme provides a strong pathway into employment: 36.5% are directly recruited by the company where they completed their internship, apprenticeship or final-year project.

ENSICAEN works with more than 300 partner companies, creating opportunities for students to put their knowledge and skills into practice, while developing or refining their career plans.

36,5%

of graduates are recruited by their host company

300

partner companies
creating opportunities for internships, apprenticeships
and first jobs.

Internships

Professional experience throughout the degree programme.

Apprenticeships
Long-term immersion in a company and recognised professional experience.
Projects
Real-world challenges proposed by companies and industrial partners.

Salary and career progression

€42k
Average annual gross salary *
on starting a career
€45k
Average annual gross salary *
after 3 years

*In France, including bonuses

Five main employment regions

Normandy (30%) and the Paris region (34%) are the main employment destinations for newly graduated ENSICAEN engineers.

30%
Normandy
34%
Paris region
8%
Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (PACA)
7,5%
Auvergne Rhône-Alpes
5%
Pays de la Loire
The employment survey was conducted in February 2026 among 259 engineers who graduated from ENSICAEN in November 2025. With a response rate of 81%, the survey provides a representative picture of the employment prospects of ENSICAEN’s engineering graduates.